Fox 13’s “Good Day Tampa Bay” spotlighted St. Petersburg Fire Rescue first responders who volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.
St. Pete Fire Rescue is an active partner in Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since 2018.
October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month–and the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.
The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
Watch the entire Fox 13 “Good Day Tampa Bay” segment here:
While they are usually saving lives by responding to emergency calls, first responders from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.
It’s all part of Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since it launched in 2018. Given October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month, it’s also the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.
JWB launched Sleep Baby Safely with its partners when data revealed that, on average, a healthy baby was dying every month in Pinellas County. Over a 10-year period, our county lost more than 100 babies from suffocation due to unsafe sleep practices – this represents six empty kindergarten classrooms!
The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
“Suffocation from unsafe sleep is the No. 1 cause of preventable child death, not just in Pinellas County but across Florida and the U.S.,” stated St. Petersburg Rescue Chief Ian Womack, who is part of the campaign. “Our men and women are usually the first to arrive on the scene. It’s a tragedy that’s 100% preventable, and we’re committed to doing whatever we can to educate and prevent these needless deaths.”
Each year in Pinellas County’s four birthing hospitals, more than 7,000 parents of newborns are given face-to-face education and Welcome Baby Bags filled with life-saving items, including a Sleep Me This Side Up onesie, Alone-Back-Crib sleep sack, and more. The bags are packed by volunteers, like St. Pete Fire Rescue first responders, and filled with items to keep babies safe during sleep in their first year of life. View the Facebook album of the event.
In addition, and thanks to the leadership and support of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Health secured funding last year to expand the Sleep Baby Safely Campaign statewide, introducing it into eight additional counties.
ABOUT SLEEP BABY SAFELY: On average, a healthy baby was dying due to unsafe sleep every month in Pinellas County. In response, JWB and its partners launched the Sleep Baby Safely campaign which features data-driven facts, consistent messages, and easy-to-remember tips for parents and caregivers. Babies need to be protected from suffocation. Share three live-saving tips to sleep babies safely every night and every nap and learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
• Follow Safe Sleep ABCs: Alone, Back, Crib. Always put babies to sleep alone on their back in an empty crib, bassinet, or Pack n’ Play. Remove all items from crib, such as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and bumper pads. Use only a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet. Use a one-piece sleeper or sleep sack to keep baby warm. • Share a Room, Not a Bed. Bring crib into parent’s room for baby’s first year; room-sharing keeps baby close without the risks. Never put baby to sleep on soft surfaces like adult beds, couches, futons, recliners, or air mattresses. • Stay Alert While Feeding. Set an alarm and always return baby to crib after feeding. Breastfeed if possible; it’s best for baby’s protection. Do not smoke or allow others to smoke around baby and avoid misuse of alcohol or drugs.
Fox 13 covered first responders from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue as they volunteered their time on October 25th to pack nearly 1,000 bags filled with items designed to save babies’ lives during sleep.
It’s all part of Sleep Baby Safely, a campaign created by the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) that has cut infant sleep-related deaths in half since it launched in 2018.
October is National Infant Safe Sleep Month–and the perfect time to share with parents and caregivers the importance of protecting babies from suffocation during sleep, every night and every nap.
The Sleep Baby Safely campaign features consistent messaging, data-based facts and tips, and coordinated materials used by all Pinellas County birthing hospitals, doctors’ offices, parent educators, and first responders, such as St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Learn more at www.SleepBabySafely.com.
Watch the entire Fox 13 “10:00 News” segment here:
Celebrities descended on Washington D.C. for a mental health roundtable with the White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council.
Mädchen Amick, Kal Penn, and Katori Hall (pictured above, from left: AMY SUSSMAN/GETTY; CRAIG BARRITT/GETTY; MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY) were just a few of the Hollywood stars who attended the conversation about how to further include accurate mental health storylines in film and television series. The roundtable was a part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ ongoing work to address the nationwide mental health crisis.
The entertainment figures and administration officials discussed the opportunities for proactive mental health storylines, according to the White House. They also spoke about the lessons they’ve learned from previous campaigns for positive representation of mental health in entertainment and how to tackle depictions of it sensitively.
Other celebrities who attended the roundtable include Tzi Ma, Freddie Highmore, Bianca Lawson, Lisa Ann Walter, David Shore, Milicent Shelton, Shawn Ryan and Joely Fisher. They were joined by professionals who specialize in psychology and mental health storytelling. It was organized by The Hollywood Committee, On Our Sleeves, JED Foundation, USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative and the Juvenile Welfare Board.
Fisher, who is Carrie Fisher’s half-sister and SAG-AFTRA’s secretary-treasurer, shared a post on the actors union’s Instagram following the discussion, elaborating on the importance of mental health for those in the entertainment industry.
“This strike we are conducting carries very real pain for everyone in the industry and beyond,” she wrote in the post and caption. “This sort of environment can cause acute mental and emotional challenges. As your union leaders, we see this, and we want to declare our support, whether you are a strike captain, a volunteer or any member — we see you, and we hear you. You are not alone.”
She also took a moment to share a personal anecdote about how mental health has always played a part in her life and hits especially close to home currently.
“My brilliant sister Carrie Fisher, who would’ve celebrated her 67th birthday today, wore her mental illness like a crown and scepter,” she wrote in the post. “When she departed, I took up the mantle of supporting humans who otherwise felt alone. What I didn’t know then was that a similar challenge and diagnosis would soon strike one of my children. The struggle is real.”
On Friday, the White House Office of Public Engagement and Domestic Policy Council convened over 20 leaders from throughout the entertainment industry to discuss the inclusion of accurate mental health storylines into film and series content. This roundtable is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to address the nationwide mental health crisis as part of President Biden’s Unity Agenda.
Administration officials and entertainment leaders discussed recent actions President Biden has taken, including strengthening the mental health workforce and system capacity, connecting more Americans to care, and creating healthy and supportive environments. As part of the conversation, participants discussed opportunities for proactive mental health storylines, lessons learned from previous campaigns to model positive behavior through entertainment, and how to sensitively navigate depictions of those experiencing mental health challenges. Participants agreed to continue the conversation and work together to foster accurate mental health storylines to decrease stigma and promote access to resources.
Administration Participants Included:
Steve Benjamin, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor
Terri Tanielian, Special Assistant to the President for Veterans Affairs
Erica Loewe, Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for Public Engagement
External Participants Included:
Mädchen Amick, Actor and Director
Dr. Eric Butter, Chief of Psychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Michael Costigan, Producer
Alexandra Daddario, Actor
Robert Disney, Organizer
Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, Chief Medical Officer, The JED Foundation
Joely Fisher, Actor and Singer
Katori Hall, Playwright and Television Producer/Creator
Freddie Highmore, Actor
Dr. Ariana Hoet, Executive Clinical Director, On Our Sleeves
On October 7, JWB’s Children’s Mental Health Initiative joined New Vision Behavioral Health for a powerful Youth Mental Health and Empowerment Summit at Eckerd College with nearly 100 in attendance! View photos of the event in this album!
This 5th Annual event focused on engaging young people in making healthy connections and finding the “why” in their lives, with a focus on destigmatizing mental health and the importance of selfcare. It also featured a track for parents and caregivers.
After the event, a youth attendee messaged one of the presenters, sharing their own struggles and thanking him for “making me realize I matter, and that people really care about me and would miss me.”
And this is exactly why JWB will continue to bring young people together for healthy conversations and connections through our Children’s Mental Health Initiative. Learn more at jwbpinellas.org/childrens-mental-health-initiative/
Recently, JWB staff had the honor of attending the 2023 Pace Center for Girls Soiree, their annual awards dinner.
JWB was recognized as a Pace Champion for our investment in and support of their wraparound services. Our CEO, Beth, was interviewed for a short video shown at the event, and Denise McCabe, wife of former JWB Board Member Hon. Bernie McCabe, presented the award to our Director of Strategic Communications, April Putzulu, who accepted the award on JWB’s behalf.
Mrs. McCabe shared this: “Bernie joined the JWB Board in 2000, alongside his colleague and friend Bob Dillinger. Bernie cherished his service on the Juvenile Welfare Board: He was steadfast in his commitment to always do what was best for children, and his benchmark was, ‘Is it good for the kids?‘
As a longstanding member of the Board’s Finance Committee, Bernie was equally committed to being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. He cared that the programs JWB funded were both fiscally sound and making a difference. In 2015, with Bernie and Bob at the table, the JWB Board approved funding for Pace Center for Girls for wrap-around support, including counseling and transition services.
If Bernie were here tonight, he would say that Pace passes his litmus test: They wisely use the funds invested by JWB….and it IS good for the kids!”
“The missions of JWB and Pace are closely aligned,” April said, as she accepted the award, a lovely heart-shaped sculpture. “Pace provides girls and young women opportunities for a better future…and JWB invests so all children will have equitable opportunity to fulfill their potential. Now more than ever, we understand the importance of healthy connections, self-care, and wellness for our youth. At JWB, it is our privilege, to support PACE in addressing the social-emotional and behavioral health needs of their girls.”
Two current JWB Board Members, Hon. Chris Latvala and Hon. Sara Mollo, were also in attendance for this very special night!
JWB’s 2023 Annual Out of School Time Conference titled “The Power of You” was held on September 29th. This was a hybrid professional development conference streamed live to watch parties across the County! It was also our largest conference yet, with 636 JWB funded agency out-of-school time staff registered.
Our CEO, Beth, kicked off the event, and JWB Training Specialist Jaime Cole was an energetic emcee!
There was a dynamic panel including Zaneta N. Ellison of New Vision Behavioral Health, Janielle McCullough with Evara Health, and Alana-Maria Luczak, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from USF. They shared practical tips to help kids thrive, to build community, and to proactively address discipline.
Herbie Mack, Suicide Interventionist, shared how our inherent superpowers can improve the wellness of youth.
OST staff attendees received superpower swag, connected through a social wall, asked questions directly of the speakers, and downloaded valuable resources for their programs. And we’ve heard from many attendees that they were inspired and recharged by the Conference and have rededicated themselves to their work with Pinellas County children.
You can enjoy a photo album of the event here, and we’ll be sharing a video of this event soon, as well.
The FOCUS Faith-Based Symposium on September 28th at Anona United Methodist Church centered on the role that faith-based and social service communities play in a post-pandemic Pinellas County.
JWB Community Engagement Advocate Joanne Reich moderated a panel including Directions for Living CEO April Lott; Sandnes Boulanger with Operation PAR, Inc.; and Gabriela Holton from CASA Pinellas.
Jeanine Evoli, JWB’s Director of Family Services Initiative, also spoke.
The event drew 125 attendees who were eager to network and explore resource tables representing 16 different community agencies.
